Letters to the Editor

As Mrs Simpson points out, she has not reported this to the council but 'others have'.

Well obviously 'others haven't', and instead of taking time writing to the KN it would have been far quicker to contact the council direct and make them aware of the problem.

It's called being responsible.

It would also be interesting to know from the 'others', the date they contacted the council and the Job No which they would have been given by the staff at the time of the report.

MR B THOMPSON,

Dale View Grove,

Long Lee.

SIR - I note that East Riddlesden Hall, in common with other National Trust properties, has been closed since the foot and mouth outbreak started. This I fully understand as the site is next door to farming land. Thus I appreciate that my son's Scouting activities normally based there have necessarily been curtailed.

What I find harder to comprehend is that apparently it is still being used for functions such as the recent Mayoral dinner held on March 30.

Can anyone refute this, or if not can they tell me how a function will not cause a risk of spreading infection when others may cause such a risk?

R TICKNER,

Florist Street, Keighley.

Ana Chylak, property manager at East Riddlesden Hall, says that, following guidance given by MAFF and the Government Task Force, criteria have been set for visitor access to National Trust properties.

She says: "It is true that some pre-booked events and functions have taken place at East Riddlesden Hall. They have taken place because they have been contained within a designated area immediately within the entrance gates and Trust staff have been able to manage these events and deliver expectations within the criteria. It is very disappointing that we have had to restrict access over the past few months." The Hall re-opens on Good Friday

SIR - I beg to disagree somewhat with the Rev Norman Daniels' Christian Viewpoint (23/3/01).

I not only believe that our concept of community is still very strong but that we are going further by reinterpreting it in terms of a world community (as I'm sure John Donne would do if he were alive today). We are, of course, helped in this by our technological advances.

The computer, the TV set and the Internet have made people less isolated one from another. Through the Internet we can communicate with people all over the world; discover that their fears and concerns reflect ours and through discussions clarify and change long held opinions and prejudices about our countries, cultures and beliefs.

Technological advances have helped us to see and understand how lives are inextricably linked and how changes in one part of the world have their knock-on effects on the other. Because of these advances we have never been more conscious of our global citizenship, being as sensitive towards each other and realise the measure of responsibility that we hold for our own destiny.

On this, at least, I would agree with the Reverend: "one of the tasks facing all churches and all faith groups is to stress that we are or should be concerned with the 'common good'."

Whether they all can rise above levels of ideological dogma is another matter.

G PRYTHERCH-WILLIAMS,

Ferncliffe Drive, Utley.

SIR - I'm sure whoever organised the petition for two more pedestrian crossings in Steeton means well, but I can't understand why they are calling for a crossing in Station Road, near the bus stop.

This would be of little use to anyone and would cause more problems than it solves, as buses would obscure the crossing when they stop to take on passengers.

The danger area is the top of Station Road, at the traffic lights, especially in the morning and afternoon when parents are taking children to the school. Obviously what is needed is a three-way pedestrian controlled crossing at the junction of Keighley Road, Skipton Road and Station Road. Then the existing crossing installed near the Methodist chapel and Skipton Road play area.

I'm raising this matter in your paper as there is no contact name or phone number on the petition.

B WATERS,

East Parade, Steeton.

SIR - There is a lot of media attention on the apparent 'crisis' of farmers and tourist businesses (hotels) due to the demise of cows, pigs and sheep. I feel that the following notes need recognition:

1, Farmers and countryside businesses:-

(a) never complain when their turnover is above any forecast. They don't say, hey Mr Blair, we're making a mint, have some cash for hospitals, police etc.

(b) These people are in a business, they should take the rough with the smooth. They say (hotels) bookings are down by x per cent, this is all assumption. Plus, who has time in winter conditions in the country anyway? (In this weather!)

(c) I've never heard of a poor farmer. They all seem to have Range Rovers, big houses, tractors, dogs, horses. Plus, a virtually oligopoly due to price maintenance and grants through, it seems, various subsidies.

2, It appears that a lot of animals are to have inoculations against foot and mouth.

Yet the vets on TV state they will have to be put down anyway. Surely, they should just kill them straight away. Talk about a waste of money.

3, Compensation comes from taxpayers. Any business, therefore, which by definition has profit problems, by precedent, should be able to claim compensation. Ridiculous, is it not!

A HOWARTH,

Whinfield Close, Braithwaite.

SIR - Our national health service has long been in the doldrums because of bed shortages, but it confounds me to learn the onus is on the ward sister to phone other hospitals and ask if they have a bed or beds available for waiting patients on trolleys in the corridor.

There should be a central 'bed control' in every region where 'bed statements' can be sent from area hospitals and collated according to beds available.

In this way information about beds can be computerised and made available to hospitals at the 'press of a button'.

CHARLES MEACHER,

Rosslyn Grove, Haworth.

SIR - Further to the debate in your paper on the state of race relations in the Bradford Metropolitan area, I can certainly comment that in Bradford area proper, large Asian ghetto areas have developed, to such an extent that it is dangerous for the indigenous population to venture into them.

We seem surprised that relations between the indigenous and Asian populations are so negative and advocate tolerance and pride in our differences.

In response to this I would suggest that we only tolerate people we despise; where there is a quality of compassion, there is no need for tolerance! Secondly, it is by dividing ourselves according to ethnic groups, religiously, ideologically, politically, class, culture, linguistically, that division occurs and from which conflict arises. As one group identifies itself with one set of values, it will come into conflict with groups with other values.

Anybody doubting this has only to witness the situation in the Balkans or Middle East or Northern Ireland, where opposing groups hold to their preconceived views irrespective of the cost.

And therefore what should our response be to this, seek some sort of continued internationalism? No, because that in itself would create a new set of preconceived values.

If we are to live a life without conflict we must set aside our preconceived values of race, culture, tradition, religion, political and ideological allegiances. This can only be achieved if we understand that we all share the common legacy of humanity and that we separate ourselves artificially. And from these artificial differences so much violence is perpetrated. If we could set aside our absurd and continued differences we would all embark on a different way of living whereby conflict would cease.

ALEC SUCHI,

Allerton Road, Bradford.

SIR - A friend now domiciled in the US wrote to me on the Al Gore v Dubya Bush fiasco: "The Americans cannot decide which one they most hate."

I thought this a trifle unsettling until I took a long hard look at British politics. I pondered: "Which party will get my vote next time, indeed, have they earned it?"

The Liberals perhaps, but then what have they done for us lowly broken bred Saxon Celts? Well, along with the Orangemen they partitioned Ireland and left us eighty years of sectarian killing. Also they er-hum, that seems to be about it, really.

Should I perhaps vote for New Improved Labour (washes reds out, spins and spins and spins).

They've given me the sinister Alan Milburn, who has a tongue slicker than an otter's backside, and the one-eyed fakir Gordon Brown, and who could forget the slippery wizard Peter Mandleson, who vanished in clouds of pink indignation - twice! Perhaps not.

So I'm left poking about on the tip with the Tories. Oh dear, how sad, never mind. There's the odious, revamped, touchy feely Portillo.

An old bat in the lumpen shape of Ann Widdecombe, and as for the leader of HM Opposition - I quite simply despair.

Recently an idiot was imprisoned. He was an ageing Rotherham skinhead who boasted that he could drink fourteen pints and run a car. Another ageing Rotherham skinhead, William Hague, reckons he can shift fourteen pints and run the country!

It's enough to base a soap opera on. Tell me, is this the best we can do?

So, with that ponderous question hung over my head like the sword of Damocles, I guess I'll be voting, as the Americans have, for those I loathe the least.

FRANK BRAMMAH,

Keighley.

SIR - Relating to the column - Hunting not high priority. Hunting is a main concern in this area.

In the olden days 'witch hunting' wasn't people's highest concern, but just like hunting today, a minority of ignorant barbaric people think it's alright, because they've always done it.

Seventy to 80 per cent of people want it banned, as putting fear into animals, then having them torn to shreds is only done by sadistic cowards.

A paltry 60 signatures fools nobody, and the Labour party should stop messing about and ban all hunting with dogs now.

MRS S MOSS,

Thornhill Avenue, Oakworth.

SIR - I refer to the current advertising campaign by the Benefits Agency, aimed at persuading people to inform on friends or neighbours whom they believe are making fraudulent claims.

Whenever I see one of the advertisements I am reminded of Winston Churchill's famous question: "What sort of people do they think we are?"

If we know that a neighbour is a serial rapist or a murderer, it is socially necessary that we tell the authorities. To do so because somebody is taking the State for a few hundred pounds, or a few thousand, is only despicable.

I am lucky enough never to have drawn benefits, but I've know a number of social security rip-off artists who were splendid people. I've yet to meet an honourable snitch.

R SWINDELLS,

Denholme Road, Oxenhope.

SIR - If we were free of Bradford monetary control and political influence some of the money designated for the political imposition of a Bradford Lord Mayor could be spent building up the only local resource that is capable of expansion, and that is the tourist trade.

Most of the local businessmen in this area's tourist business who are competent at tackling expansion of this trade are being crippled by local and national planning bureaucratic inaction.

Many would be happier if local rates, stolen to pay for Bradford's policy disasters, were spent in this region on expanding such an industry. Locally, Keighley award winning Bronte Camping Park is a shining example of independent stance.

I understand that no public funds were requested nor offered to this outstanding tribute to beautiful landscaping. Haworth traders are another example of business people busily fighting off those choking bureaucrats who obviously have no concept of functioning in a modern business environment.

Car-parking being a problem which for years has defied movement towards any significant growth. What are urgently needed are people in council, preferably local officers who have a sympathy with today's tourist needs. The jewel that is Keighley tourist trade has been achieved in spite of Bradford, not because of it.

MRS RUTH BLACKMAN,

Prince Street, Haworth.

SIR - I was taken as a guest to see the Holy Family School's production of the King and I.

We were asked shall we dance, and we did all night to a wonderful performance of the story and lyrics. From the incomparable Anna, brilliant king, superb Tuptim, Lady Thiang, Prince Chululonghorn, Louis, Lun Tha and the rest of the very talented cast, we were given a magical evening to remember. Congratulations to everyone involved in this production. I'm sure the school must be bursting with pride.

MRS CATHERINE THORNE,

Oakbank Avenue,

Exley Head.